Underrated Reads

Kindred Spirits: Thomas Merton, Jack Kerouac, and Zen – Edward C Sellner

Posted on July 31, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Edward C. Sellner's Kindred Spirits brings together two unlikely figures—Trappist monk Thomas Merton and Beat Generation icon Jack Kerouac. This well-researched biography explores how Buddhist thought influenced each man's spiritual journey. Both men battled depression, wrote compassionately about society's outsiders, and were influenced by Zen scholar D.T. Suzuki and the concept…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Philosophical reads | Tagged biography, philosophy | Leave a comment

Buyer Beware – Catherine Ryan Howard

Posted on July 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set on the outskirts of Dublin in 2025, Buyer Beware follows Ellie as she moves into the first home she's ever owned. Unfortunately, it's cold, filthy, and falling apart, and with little money to spare, she can barely afford to live there. Then strange things begin happening. Someone seems to break into…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Irish Literature, Reviewers' Top Picks | Tagged Irish literature, murder | Leave a comment

From Lompoc With Love – Haris Orkin

Posted on July 25, 2026 by J D Jung

Reviewed by Don Jung) From Lompoc With Love is the sixth in a series of spy thrillers that is fast paced with nonstop action that takes you around the world. James Flynn is a retired “secret agent" who is trying to get back to a normal life in Switzerland with his girlfriend. A lovely Russian agent…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged espionage, spy thriller | Leave a comment

Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils – Sandra Jackson-Opoku

Posted on July 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I usually gravitate toward gritty thrillers rather than cozy mysteries, so I wasn't expecting Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils to hook me the way it did. But this engaging culinary mystery quickly won me over. Savvy Summers owns Essie's Place, the most popular soul food restaurant on Chicago's South Side,…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged cozy mystery, recipes | Leave a comment

We’re Here Again…An UnderratedRead Revisited: Mr. Siegel Writes to Washington – Rich Siegel

Posted on July 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) (Editor's note: With the political demise of Graham Platner, the actual demise of Lindsey Graham, and the questionable demise of Mitch MConnell, the United States Senate is back in the spotlight. Though written during Trump's first term, Mr. Siegel Writes to Washington is still a timely and hilarious read. -JD…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged American politics, humor | Leave a comment

Happy Life – David Foenkinos (Author), Sam Taylor (Translator)

Posted on July 14, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Eric Kherson is forty years old, divorced, has little contact with his son, and is struggling to find meaning in his life. He makes a good living but feels disconnected from both his personal life and his sense of purpose . When an old school acquaintance he barely remembered, Amelie, offers…

Posted in French Literature, Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged French literature, life, purpose | Leave a comment

Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop – Alba Donati (Author), Elena Pala (Translator)

Posted on July 10, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “People want stories; it doesn’t matter who wrote them, they need stories to take their mind off things, stories to identify with or to take them elsewhere. Stories that won’t hurt, that will heal a wound, restore trust, instil beauty into their hearts.” One of my favorite things to do while…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Italian Literature | Tagged bookstores, Italian literature, memoirs | Leave a comment

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt – Ben Reeves

Posted on July 7, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt offers a fascinating and deeply original perspective on death through the character of Travis Smith, who is death in human form. Rather than causing death or deciding who dies, Travis has a singular purpose: he comforts people in their final moments and gently releases them…

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged death | Leave a comment

An UnderratedRead Revisited on this 4th of July:America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State – Randall Balmer

Posted on July 4, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) For years Americans have taken for granted the most cherished and essential constitutional principles, one being the separation of Church and State. Historian and ordained minister Randall Balmer presents a timely, thoughtful, and deeply researched examination of this issue from the 17th century to current day in his book, America’s Best…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged American politics, Christian Nationalism, Religion | Leave a comment

Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America with Einstein’s Brain – Michael Paterniti

Posted on July 1, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I first heard about this book the way all the best recommendations happen — from a stranger in a secondhand bookstore. During a visit to Nashville, I ducked into Defunct Books and asked the bookseller for an underrated read. He had a soft spot for road trip stories, and this was…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs | Tagged memoirs | Comments Off

An Exceptional UnderratedReads Revisited: Pancakes in Paris: Living the American Dream in France – Craig Carlson

Posted on June 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) “I spoke of my favorite city and how beautiful it was…How all it needed was an American breakfast joint, and then it would be perfect!” Former Hollywood screenwriter, Craig Carlson, wanted to live his dream and open up an American diner in Paris. He fell in love with the city when…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged cooking, LGBTQ, Paris | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Selamlik – Khaled Alesmael (translated from the Arabic by Leri Price)

Posted on June 25, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I am so glad I was born in Syria and get to be young in Damascus, no matter the fear and danger. I love Damascus even if she is cruel to me.” Our narrator Furat lives in the shadows and has always had to hide his sexuality. There are places where…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged immigration, LGBTQ, Religion, Syria | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Media

Posted on June 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We were a family of emigrants, on the move from generation to generation. Forced to flee our homes because of intolerable situations imposed on us by those in power. The United States was meant to be the last stop on that journey.” Such is the case of thirty-six-year-old attorney and recovering…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged immigration, LGBTQ | Comments Off

Lisette – Clare Castleberry

Posted on June 16, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I'll be honest — erotic horror isn't usually my genre. But after enjoying Clare Castleberry's Bound by Blood, I gave Lisette a chance, and I'm glad I did. Set against the gritty backdrop of New Orleans and its surrounding swamplands, Lisette packs an impressive amount of story into just 77 pages.…

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Horror | Tagged horror, murder, New Orleans, sex, short books | Comments Off

An Excellent UnderratedRead Revisited:The Riddle of the Sphinx – Alexandre Montagu

Posted on June 13, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Eric (Keyvan) fled Iran as a child during the Islamic revolution and grew up in Paris. He later studied Comparative Literature at Princeton. That is one scenario. What would have happened if he was forced to stay in Iran? So much of one’s life (or death) is determined by a…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged identity, Iran, Islam, LGBTQ | Comments Off

An Author’s Dozen: Thirteen Short Stories – Christopher Amato

Posted on June 9, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy literary short story collections that explore the complexities of human nature, then An Author's Dozen is well worth your time. The thirteen stories are remarkably original, taking readers across different locations, time periods, and emotional landscapes. Themes of destiny, regret, resilience, love, and self-discovery run throughout the collection.…

Posted in Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction, Short stories | Tagged short stories | Comments Off

Precious Friends: Murder in Sag Harbor – Frank Spinelli

Posted on June 6, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This suspenseful mystery pulls you into the glamorous world of New York’s gay elite. Forty-eight-year-old JB Pulaski, a Columbia professor, has been married to Mike for seventeen years, and together they are raising their adopted son, Emilio. Mike has philandered throughout their marriage, but once JB is diagnosed and treated for…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance | Tagged LGBTQ, murder, Romance | Comments Off

Goodbye Chinatown – Kit Fan

Posted on June 2, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This emotionally layered novel blends food, family, politics, and identity into a powerful story. Set between London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, it follows Amber Fan, a talented young chef determined to build her dream London restaurant, Luna, while guarding a family secret that she must divulge some day. What I loved…

Posted in Culture, Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged food, immigration, multiculture | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited and Tribute to Sonny Rollins

Posted on May 31, 2026 by J D Jung

JD Jung) Last week, tenor saxophonist and jazz great Sonny Rollins passed away at the age of ninety-five. In 1959, twenty-eight-year-old Rollins disappeared for two years with the purpose of practicing and improving his craft. He wrote down his thoughts on technical aspects of the saxophone, “rethinking musical concepts”, as well as those on perseverance,…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged jazz, music | Comments Off

Final Transaction: Murder, Money & Real Estate – Diane Dickinson

Posted on May 29, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This fast-paced real estate murder mystery pulls readers deep into Houston’s world of wealth, ambition, and secrets. When successful realtor Todd Drake — co-owner of Drake Properties and one of Houston’s top boutique real estate agents — is found shot to death before an open house, the story immediately hooks you.…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged murder-mystery | Comments Off

Inspiration Porn: Essays – Ryan O’Connell

Posted on May 26, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Inspirational Porn is one of the most honest, funny, and emotional memoir collections I’ve read in a long time. Known for the Netflix series “Special” and his television writing career, Ryan O'Connell infuses these essays with humor and vulnerability as he examines identity, relationships, addiction, and a career in Hollywood as…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged LGBTQ, memoirs | Comments Off

A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Shameless – Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy – Brian Tyler Cohen

Posted on May 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “You can’t understand the Trump phenomenon unless you understand the role that independent media on the right has played in terms of social media, in terms of amplification of his message, in terms of getting his fake news across.” Democrats have yet to create a strategy to compete with the…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged American politics, democracy | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited : Great Again – Bill Day

Posted on May 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Ex-Marine Jack O’Mally is divorced and estranged from his adult daughter. He just can’t accept that she is married to a black musician and living in California. Jack is captain of his New Jersey neighborhood watch, which targets undocumented workers. Of course, they conveniently overlook the fact that neighbors rely on…

Posted in Fiction | Tagged immigration, racism, undocumented | Comments Off

The Royal We – Roddy Bottum

Posted on May 15, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s the early 1980’s and San Francisco is a city of non-conformity, tolerance, and acceptance in contrast to Los Angeles, where most try to conform. That along with the abundance of drugs is part of what attracted film student and musician Roddy Bottum to the city. Bottum captures the chaotic energy…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged LGBTQ, memoirs | Comments Off

KOSTYA – Scott Zimmerman

Posted on May 8, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) This powerful World War II novel delivers a deeply personal and harrowing account of survival, resilience, and the human spirit under unimaginable conditions. Based on a true story, it follows Kostya, a seventeen-year-old Ukrainian boy captured by the Nazis and sent to a brutal coal mining labor camp in Germany. From…

Posted in Historical Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks | Tagged WWII | Comments Off

Good News – Alexa Yasemin Brahme

Posted on May 5, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy character-driven fiction about identity, ambition, and messy personal growth, Good News delivers a captivating and relatable story. Maggie, a woman in her late twenties pursuing her MFA, feels caught between her artistic dreams and the expectations of her Turkish immigrant family. With a successful brother and a “perfect…

Posted in Fiction, More fiction, Romance | Tagged artists., emotion, immigration | Comments Off

The Shy Assassin – Clara Usón, translated by Lily Meyer

Posted on May 1, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Shy Assassin by Clara Usón, but it completely surprised me. What begins as a curiosity about the mysterious death of Spanish “erotic” actress Sandra Mozarowsky quickly unfolds into something far more layered and introspective. The novel follows Clara, an ex-lawyer…

Posted in Fiction, More fiction, Spanish Literature | Tagged philosophy, suicide | Comments Off

Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef – Brigid Washington

Posted on April 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This heartfelt culinary memoir follows Brigid Ransome, a Trinidad-born writer and cooking aficionado, as she rebuilds her life after heartbreak. Set against the backdrop of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, this story blends personal growth, cultural identity, and a deep love of food and cooking…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged memoir | Comments Off

Another UnderratedRead Revisited: Affections: A Novel – Rodrigo Hasbún , Translated by Sophie Hughes

Posted on April 23, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Affections is an intriguing work of historical fiction based on true events following the once- close Ertl family. Hans, the patriarch, was a Nazi propaganda cinematographer, and the family fled Munich and arrived in La Paz, Bolivia in 1955 to start a new life. Hans, who was also a mountaineer in…

Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature | Tagged Historical fiction, Latin American Lit | Comments Off

The Presence of Men – Francesca Marciano

Posted on April 20, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This novella immediately drew me in with its quiet emotional depth and evocative Italian setting. Starting over after divorce captures what it really means to rebuild a life. —messy, uncertain, and deeply personal. . Lara used almost all her settlement money to renovate a house in a little-known village in southern…

Posted in Fiction, Italian Literature, World Literature | Tagged emotional, short books | Comments Off

My Dreadful Body – Egana Djabbarova (Author), Lisa C. Hayden (Translator)

Posted on April 14, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Author Egana Djabbarova shares a story about identity, illness, and cultural expectations in her novel, My Dreadful Body. Set between Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, it follows a Muslim woman who feels like she belongs nowhere—not in her country, not in her culture, and not even within her own family. From a…

Posted in Slavic Literature, World Literature | Tagged culture, Muslim, mysogeny | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Breakthrough – John C. Robinson

Posted on April 12, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) I was attracted to this book because it was described as a “fast-paced spiritual contemporary novel.” Intriguing, no? I’m a person on a path of spiritual growth. I think we all are, but some of us are more intentional than others. So, I was looking to this book to help…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Spiritual/mystical | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Siphon – A. A. Medina

Posted on April 7, 2026 by J D Jung

Reviewed by JD Jung) Hematopathologist Gary Phillips continually pulls all-nighters at the hospital and hates his job. He has no girlfriend or social life, though he has an infatuation with a female co-worker who is at least ten years his junior. Yes, part of the problem is due to his work schedule, but the…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged short books, thrillers | Comments Off

Colored Pebbles – Del Staecker

Posted on April 1, 2026 by J D Jung

Reviewed by JD Jung) Every once in a while, I come across a memoir that doesn’t try to impress—it simply asks you to slow down and reflect. Colored Pebbles by Del Staecker is that kind of book. Told through a series of stand-alone stories, this memoir highlights the people, lessons, and events that shaped…